Missouri Institution Looks to Preserve Pearl Harbor Memory

Five World War II veterans will get the trip of a lifetime thanks in part to College of the Ozarks in Hollister, Mo. Guy Piper and Clarence Pfundheller are Pearl Harbor survivors, men who tried to fight off Japanese plays as they strafed the naval installation and bombed American warships in Hawaii. The Associated Press reports today is the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks that began America’s involvement in World War II.

This is their story about witnessing the “day that will live in infamy.”

Guy Piper

The Springfield News-Leader reports Piper was working on repairing and refurbishing aircraft engines on Ford Island. The USS Oklahoma was a mere 125 yards away in a line of battleships that were part of the mighty fleet in the Pacific.

The barracks where Piper was stationed didn’t have any weaponry with which to defend itself. He and his crewmates initially took shelter. Afterward, the man threw himself into helping with cleanup operations. The barracks served as a makeshift trauma center to help burn victims. Piper said the burn victims were the “worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Clarence Pfundheller

The Associated Press reports Pfundheller was stationed on the USS Maryland the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. He manned a 5-inch anti-aircraft gun on deck as he tried to bring down Japanese torpedo planes. Planes were flying so close, Pfundheller could see Japanese pilots laughing at Americans scrambling to defend themselves.

The Maryland survived with only minor damage, thanks in part to the crew who tried to release the ship from its moorings while the attack was happening. The battleship took part in the Pacific Theater of operations later in the war.

Living History Project

Piper and Pfundheller are part of an ongoing project to help preserve the memories of those service men and women who fought bravely for the United States in World War II. College of the Ozarks has been involved in the living history project since 2009. Ten students accompanied five veterans on a trip to Pearl Harbor and then to Japan to learn firsthand what it was like to be in the “greatest generation.”

The New York Times reports time is running out to hear and record firsthand accounts of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The 70th anniversary will be the last one for an annual gathering hosted by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. The organization will disband Dec. 31 as the passage of time has left fewer and fewer numbers to maintain membership. The group was founded in 1958 and had 28,000 members at its height. Now there are 2,700 people left, many of whom are 90 or older and are in nursing homes.

William Browning, a lifelong Missouri resident, writes about local and state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Born in St. Louis, Browning earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri. He currently resides in Branson.


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